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Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) at Rally for the Roads in Washington, D.C. on March 20

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.) said the lower chamber will pass a short-term extension of the current funding bill for road and transit projects, which will be the ninth short-term extension of legislation that expired in 2009, according to The Hill.

Mica says he will introduce a three-month extension of highway and transit programs. The extension will not include changes to current transportation policy.

He said in a written statement that on March 22 he introduce a short-term extension through June 30 to ensure continuity of current programs while “I and House Republicans continue to work toward a responsible transportation bill that provides long-term certainty, reduces the size of government, eliminates earmarks, and is fully paid for. We continue to believe that linking energy and infrastructure is the responsible thing to do in order to meet our long-term needs.”

At the Second Annual Rally for the Roads transportation rally in Washington, D.C., held on March 20, Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) said: “No great country can exist when our roads are falling down around us…,” reported Therese Dunphy, Editor-in-Chief of Aggregates Manager, a sister publication to Better Roads. “It’s not the time for partisanship or experimentation. I ask the House to pick up the Senate bill. They need to pass it. The president has said he will sign it. Tip O’Neill counted to 218 votes and he didn’t care if it was a Democratic or Republican vote. That’s what we need from Speaker Boehner… Put aside the fights and do something good for America.”